Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL23101’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCAL23101’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; intense cherry red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL23101’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL23101’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 5, 2010 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 10CJ49-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 09C896-12B, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 13, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 16, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and various cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCAL23101’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL23101’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Intense cherry red-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not         as upright as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have dark pink-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have-reddish-pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI17’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,701. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘USCALI17’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘USCALI17’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of         ‘USCALI17’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of ‘USCALI17’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI17’ differed in         flower color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘Superbells Trailing Rose’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘Superbells Trailing Rose’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than and not         as trailing as plants of ‘Superbells Trailing Rose’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Superbells Trailing Rose’         differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL23101’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL23101’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and subsequently in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched two times and were six weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL23101’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 10CJ49-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 09C896-12B, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at             temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit             with about ten primary lateral branches each with multiple             secondary branches; pinching enhances branching; dense and             bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 11 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 32.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 16 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading and             mounding.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Bluntly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; minute.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about eight to ten open flowers per lateral branch             and more than 400 developing per plant; flowers face upright             to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about four weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from spring though the summer until             autumn in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about three to             four days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to N187C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm by 3.2 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 5 mm by 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About             1.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Obovate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal             texture, lower surface: Pubescent; scattered and minute.             Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent;             scattered and minute. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper             surface: Close to brighter than 59A. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to N77D. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Close to brighter than 59B; towards             the throat, close to N77A; venation, close to N77A; color             becoming closer to N79B with development. Petal lobe, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 71A; venation, close to             N77A. Throat: Close to 15C; venation, close to 195A. Tube:             Close to 160C; venation, close to 187A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Sepal length: About 1.8 cm. Sepal width: About             3.5 mm. Sepal shape: Elliptic to lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Sepal color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 55° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent; minute. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther             color: Close to 8B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 7C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:             Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to             146B. Ovary color: Close to 145C. Seeds and fruits: Seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL23101’ as illustrated and described. 